Along the Fraser Should handwriting still be taught? p6
Garibaldi girls win $5,000 for charity. p13
THE NEWS
Gardening Jeff and his hummingbirds. p37
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, April 11, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
‘Bad’ tenants living for free Landlords claim process to evict those who don’t pay rent is too slow by Ph i l M e lnych uk staff reporter
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Cara Falconer is trying to evict tenants from her house along Bryant Drive in Maple Ridge.
Cara Falconer is not wasting any time. After watching a news report Tuesday about two troublesome tenants in Maple Ridge, she learned the couple have landed in her and husband Darrin’s rental property in Rock Ridge. Two days later, she issued a notice for unpaid rent. “They moved in April 1st,” said Falconer. “Then I saw the special on CBC last night. So I thought, this is what they do.” Thursday morning she and her husband Darrin issued the notice to Chris and Susan Perret, who the report says are moving into rental homes, not paying rent, then living rent free for months before being evicted. Falconer is already out $1,500 after the cheque for April bounced. The couple gave Falconer a $750 cash damage deposit and $400 cash for a pet damage deposit, as well as three cheques for three months’ rent for the top storey of a house at the north end of 236th Street. But the Falconers are not counting on the rent cheques clearing for the next two months, either. See Tenants, p10
School budget hits CUPE hard Cuts to teachers, office staff and most buses considered by Ne i l Co r b e t t staff reporter
Municipal: Street banners to mark city centennial. See story, p11
The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School Board is looking at a 2014-2015 budget that will cut about 40 jobs and could eliminate bus service for all students but those with special needs. “Without question, this is a difficult process,” board chair Mike Murray said as the pro-
DEBBIE SHEPPARD 604-312-3705
debbiesheppard.com
posed budget was introduced. He said trustees also faced millions in budget cuts last year, so finding more this year was more difficult. “Everything we do at this point will have an impact on students,” he acknowledged. There were angry whispers and comments from approximately 35 CUPE members who filled the cramped board office in Maple Ridge on Wednesday, as secretary treasurer Flavia Coughlan read over the proposed budget. She said there is a shortfall of $5 million, or about four per
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cent of revenues. With 89 per cent of the board’s $125 million budget made up of salaries and benefits, that is where permanent savings had Murray to be found. CUPE faces numerous employee cuts, 23 full-time equivalent positions total. The cuts will come in support services
for students with special needs, to clerical workers, and all high school career planning assistants, among others. Christine McVeigh, a CUPE member from Westview secondary, said the increase of 3.5 per cent the union negotiated for her position should have resulted in an additional $1,000 annually, but that has been reduced by $800 because of the board’s reduction in her working hours. “You’re taking away money from the lowest-paid workers,” she told the board.
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See Cuts, p8
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